Tokyo's Edogawa Ward held its annual Goldfish Festival at Gyōsen Park on July 18 and 19, showcasing thousands of fish to the public [1, 2].
The event serves as a critical effort to preserve the region's breeding heritage and promote local revitalization as the industry faces a steep decline [1, 2].
Organizers displayed approximately 20 species of goldfish [1]. A total of 18,000 fish were featured during the two-day event, which includes traditional displays, a market, and goldfish scooping activities [1, 2].
The festival has a history spanning more than 50 years [1]. This tradition reflects a once-booming local industry; during the early Showa era, the area hosted 23 breeding firms [1]. At its peak, these firms produced approximately 50 million fish annually [1].
Today, the industry has shrunk significantly, with only one breeding firm remaining in the area [1]. Despite this decline, the festival continues to attract crowds of all ages. One attendee said, "I didn't catch a single one, but it was fun" [1]. Another attendee who successfully caught a fish said, "I caught this one and got it. I'm happy I got the goldfish I was aiming for" [1].
Horiguchi Hidemitsu, the chairman of the Goldfish Festival Executive Committee, said the event is intended to show everyone that goldfish are still being produced in Edogawa Ward [1].
“The festival has a history spanning more than 50 years.”
The transition from 23 breeding firms to a single remaining operation highlights the vulnerability of traditional urban aquaculture in Tokyo. By maintaining the festival, Edogawa Ward is attempting to transform a commercial industry into a cultural asset, using tourism and community engagement to prevent the total disappearance of its breeding heritage.
